No matter with what oblique eyes I am looked upon in the world, if God thinks well of me. It is better that God approve, than man applaud. The world may put us in their rubric and God put us in his black book. What is a man the better that his fellow-prisoners commend him, if his judge condemn him? …Let my fellow-subjects frown, I am contented, being a favourite of the king of heaven.
from The Art of Divine Contentment
“…the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 3:7-9 Continue reading “The Prophet with the Hard Head”
Many thanks to all who labored in Jesus’ name on Sunday afternoon to minister to the saints at our bi-monthly combined service. Special thanks to Pastor Eric Anderson for delivering a powerful message on the work of an elder from Titus 1:10-16. You can find a recording of it here. Thanks also to Pastor Kevin Carr for reading chapter 25 of the Westminster Confession, the Ostrom family for ministering in song, and Michele Reed for her work on the piano, and Phil Halvorson for leading us in congregational singing. Thanks to the ladies of Quamba for the goodies afterward. Thanks be to our Lord Jesus for the joy of gathering together with His people to worship His name.
If the Lord wills, we will live and re-gather at Lifespring Church in Crosby, MN, on June 26, 4:30 PM. Hope you can make it!
John Newton (1725–1807)
Physician of my sin-sick soul
To Thee I bring my case;
My raging malady control,
And heal me by Thy grace. Continue reading “Physician of My Sin-sick Soul”
If men cannot give God a good word, shall we be discontented or troubled that they speak hardly (harshly) of us? Such as labour to bury the glory of religion, shall we wonder that “their throats are open sepulchres” to bury our good name? O let us be contented, while we are in God’s scouring-house, to have our names sullied a little; the blacker we seem to be here, the brighter we shall shine when God hath set us upon the celestial shelf.
from The Art of Divine Contentment
ed. note: The following is an unedited manuscript from a sermon preached at First Baptist Church of Marquette, MI at this year’s Good Friday Service, a wonderful celebration of the cross of Jesus in which five area churches gather together to sing and hear the Word preached. The selection of the text was an assignment given to me from my dear father, Pastor Randy Reed, to whom I am eternally grateful for the joys discovered in preparing this message, another in the endless list of ways in which I am indebted to him. -jr Continue reading “Seeking Glory in the Suffering of the Cross”
God will supply our wants, but must he satisfy our lusts too? Many are discontented for a very trifle; another hath a better dress, a richer jewel, a newer fashion. Nero, not content with his empire, was troubled that the musician had more skill in playing than he. How fantastic are some, that pine away in discontent for the want of those things which if they had, would but render them more ridiculous!
from The Art of Divine Contentment
Preachers should take heed likewise that they hide not their meaning in dark speeches, speaking in the clouds. Truth fears nothing so much as concealment, and desires nothing so much as clearly to be laid open to the view of all. When it is most unadorned, it is most lovely and powerful.
–from The Bruised Reed
ed. note: At our most recent “Slaves at Rest,” the conversation turned to the subject of the Lord’s Table, and a pastor’s responsibilities in the ministering of the ordinance, particularly to children. I was fascinated to hear Pastors Kevin Carr and Eric Anderson discuss their thinking, and when Eric mentioned he had written a related article for his congregation, I asked him if we could publish it here so we might benefit from his study. -jr Continue reading “Pastoral Thoughts on the Lord’s Table”
Common Slaves 